Haymarket chaos: 'Jenny, we're just telling it like it is on the roads'

THE reaction by council leader Jenny Dawe to a suggestion by the Evening News that all but essential vehicles give the Haymarket area a wide berth while tram works are in progress is bizarre to say the least.

To accuse the paper of behaving in a shameful manner shows just how far she is divorced from the reality of what is happening at what is now a no-go zone for drivers at rush hour.

It is not the first time that this newspaper has been attacked for trying to give readers practical advice, or reflecting popular sentiment, nor it is likely to be the last.

Back in 1997 we came under a similar attack, after we published police warnings for drivers to stay away from the Conference Centre area as a massive security operation was mounted for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. We reported motorists' disgust at the mayhem which ensued – ironically enough, in the Haymarket area.

At least during that meeting 11 years ago the council had the foresight to set up 15 designated parking sites where drivers could leave their cars and take the bus into town.

Where was this vision this time around, and what have Ms Dawe and her colleagues done to try and minimise the disruption?

The Evening News has been supportive of the trams project but we warned that there would be years of pain such as this before any benefits could be reaped. We were not scaremongering then and we are not now. The evidence of this is to be seen on Leith Walk, on Constitution Street and Shandwick Place, and now at Haymarket. The council was also aware this would happen and that is why a compensation scheme was established for businesses whose trade would be affected by the works.

It is all very well for Ms Dawe to advise drivers, bus operators and taxi drivers to just sit it out the delays but that solves nothing. She accuses us of advocating that public should stay away from the city centre while these works are in progress. That is nonsense. We are telling people to stay away from the roadworks if at all possible.

Ms Dawe can try and tells us it is a small price to pay but we prefer to tell it as it really is. She can bury her head in the sand as deeply as she wants. But the evidence of disruption for all who have to cross Haymarket on a daily basis is there for all to see.

At least if drivers are told to stay away, the buses might have a better chance of running on time. What's your idea, Jenny?